CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Missed Important Call with Elderly Parent

You missed an important call from your elderly parent, and they are upset. You want to explain why you couldn’t answer and reassure them.

Preparation

60 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Choice

Speak to person A or person B

The question

You missed an important call from your elderly parent, and they are upset. You want to explain why you couldn’t answer and reassure them.

Choose ONE: EITHER Talk to your parents and explain why you missed the call and assure them it won’t happen again. OR Talk to a sibling and explain why you think your parent might be overreacting to the missed call.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I truly regret missing the call and I understand why my parents are upset. I was caught up with work and couldn’t take the call. However, I’ll reach out to them as soon as possible to explain the situation and make sure they know how important they are to me. I’ll also reassure them that I will prioritize being available for them in the future. I know they might be worried, so I’ll do my best to address their concerns calmly and kindly.

83 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

I feel bad that I missed their call. I was in a meeting and didn’t realize the time. I’m going to call them back right away and explain why I missed the call. I’ll also reassure them that I will make more of an effort to stay available for future calls. I understand they might be upset, but I’m sure once I explain, everything will be fine.

67 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hey, I’m really sorry I missed the call. I was busy with work and didn’t hear the phone. I’ll make sure to call back soon and explain. I don’t want them to feel bad, and I’ll try not to miss the next call. I know how important it is.

49 words

The CLBs are estimates of the level each sample was written at, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB